Land leveler and grader



W. A. WEAVER LAND LEVELER AND GRADER Dec. 30, 1969 7 Filed May 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JIL IN VEN TOR. WALL/s 14. WEA vE/z BY HTTOENEYS IIII'IIIIII Dec. 30, 1969 w. A. WEAVER LAND LEVELER AND GRADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10. 1966 INVENTOR WALL/5 .4. W54 VEE BY 4rro/eA/sys United States Patent 3,486,567 LAND LEVELER AND GRADER Wallis A. Weaver, Rte. 1, Box 209E, Coden, Ala. 36523 Filed May 10,'1966, Ser. No. 548,944 Int. Cl. A01b 63/02, 63/00; E02f 3/12 US. Cl. 172-460 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting arrangement for the blade of a land leveler and grader machine, the machine including a supporting frame to which the central portion of a transversely extending boom is pivotally connected. A pair of arms depend from the opposite end portions of the boom, the upper ends of the arms being connected to the boom by universal joint means, and the lower ends of the arms being pivotally connected to a blade so that the blade can be swung longitudinally of the boom. The blade can thus be rotated with the boom, can be shifted laterally, and can be swung fore and aft to change the angle of cut thereof. Means are provided to hold the blade fixed in a desired operating position.

This invention relates to an improved machine for leveling and grading land, and more particularly to an improved arrangement for mounting the blade of a land leveler and grader whereby the blade is mounted for easy and nearly universal adjustment of its position relative to the supporting frame on which it is carried.

in agriculture and construction work it frequently is necessary to level a parcel of land and/or grade it into a desired configuration, to excavate drainage ditches and the like, and to in other ways operate upon the surface of the earth to obtain wanted topographical features. The

principal object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive machine for accomplishing these tasks, incorporating a blade uniquely mounted so that it can be easily adjusted to nearly any position for performing a wide variety of leveling, grading and excavating operations.

Another object is to provide a land leveler and grader having a blade which can be rotated through a wide angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine, and which can be rotated to reduce the overall width of the machine sufiiciently so that it can travel with safety on highways and pass through narrow gates and the like.

A further object is to provide a land leveler and grader having a blade which can be laterally offset so that the outer end thereof projects substantially beyond the side of the machine, whereby wet areas can be worked upon without the need for the wheels of the machine to pass thereover.

Still another object is to provide a land leveler and grader including a blade mounted and arranged so that the elevation of the opposite ends thereof can be easily adjusted, and so that the angle of cut of the blade can be set to a desired value.

It is also an object to provide a land leveler and grader which can be easily fabricated and repaired, and which can be adjusted and operated by a single person.

Another object is to provide a unique arrangement for mounting a blade on a land leveler and grader, so that the blade can be easily adjusted to nearly any position.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a land leveler and grader incorporating the unique blade mounting arrangement 3,486,567 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 of the invention, and shows the extent to which the blade can be rotated to vary the angle between it and the longitudinal axis of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1, showing in particular how the blade can be swung fore and aft about the supporting boom to vary the angle of cut thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1, showing how the blade can be swung longitudinally of the boom into an offset position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing how the opposite ends of the blade can be adjusted to diiferent elevations for performing a grading or ex cavating operation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG. 3, showing the construction of the cable anchor arrangement on one of the supporting arms;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view through the blade taken along the line 66 in FIG. 3, showing the structure by which the blade is pivotally mounted on the lower end portion of one of the supporting arms;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the universal connections, taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1, showing the arrangement for connecting the boom to the supporting frame.

Referring now to the drawings, a land leveler and grader constructed according to the invention is indicated at 1, and includes a longitudinally elongated supporting frame 2 upon which is carried a blade 4. The supporting frame 2 includes an inclined front member 6 welded at its upper end to a horizontal, longitudinally extending central member 8, and a pair of inclined, diverging rear members 10 welded at their upper ends to the rear end of the central member 8. A transverse brace 14 and a gusset plate 16 are welded between the diverging rear members 10 about midway their length, and a longitudinal extending truss 18 is welded between the transverse brace 14 and the front member 6. The supporting frame 2 is further braced by a trapezoidal gusset plate 20 welded to the upper ends of the diverging rear members 10, and a mounting plate 22 is welded to the top surface of the central member 8 and to the front edge of the gusset plate 20. A reinforcing plate 21 is welded to the front member 6 and to the front edge of the mounting plate 22 to further brace the plate 22.

The rear ends of the diverging rear members 10 are connected by suitable clamps 24 to a transversely extending axle 26, provided with wheels 28 on the opposite ends thereof. The forward end of the front member 6 has a fabricated rectangular box 30 welded thereto, the front wall of which comprises the lower end of the vertical leg 32 of an L-shaped plate 34. The vertical leg 32 of the plate 34 extends a substantial distance above the forward end of the front member 6, and the horizontal leg 36 of said plate is welded at its outer end to the top surface of said front member. A pair of triangular gusset plates 38 are welded to the opposite sides of the front member 6, and to the lateral edges of the outer end of the horizontal leg 36 of the plate 34. A rod 40 extends through the front and rear walls of the fabricated box 30 and is secured by nuts 42, the front end of the rod being enlarged and having a hole therethrough whereby to define a hitch 44 for attaching the supporting frame 2 in a towing position behind a tractor 46, or other suitable towing vehicle.

Disposed to lie on the mounting plate 22 is a hollow, rectangular, transversely extending boom 48, which is pivotally connected centrally thereof to the longitudinally extending central member 8 by a pivot pin 50 that is received through aligned bores in the boom and the member 8, which pivot pin is secured by a locking pin 52. The pivot pin 50 thus mounts the boom 48 for rotation about a generally vertical axis, as is indicated in FIG. 1.

Suspended from the opposite end portions of the boom 48 by universal connections 54 are blade supporting arms 56, each of said arms comprising a rectangular member 58 having a rectangular collar 60 slidably received thereon. The members 58 have a plurality of axially spaced transverse bores 62 therethrough which register with transverse bores 64 through the collars 60 as said members are moved up and down, and the members 58 can be secured to their respective collars by lock pins 66 passed through the aligned bores 64 and 62. Each of the universal connections 54 includes a pair of spaced plates 68 welded to the front face of the boom 48, and between which is received a pair of blocks 70 each containing onehalf of a spherical recess 72, the blocks 70 being secured to the plates 68 by bolts 74.

The rear face of each collar 60 has a ball unit welded thereto, the ball element 76 of which is received within its associated spherical recess 72. Thus, the supporting arms 56 are mounted for universal movement relative to the boom 48, and can be swung fore and aft and longitudinally of said boom.

The length of each supporting arm 56 can be adjusted manually by first removing the lock pin '66, and then sliding the arm member 58 vertically within the collar 60 to the desired position, after which the lock pin is reinserted. While such manual operation will be satisfactory in most instances, the machine as shown in the drawings includes jacks connected and operable to facilitate ver tical adjustment of the supporting arms 56.

Secured to the front face of each rectangular collar 60 is a bracket 82, and a similar bracket 84 is welded to the front face of a vertically adjustable rectangular collar 85 slidably received on each arm member 58. Each collar 85 is retained in a selected position by a pin 87 passed through transverse bores in it and its arm member 58, and said collars 85 make it possible to mount jacks of various lengths. A double-acting hydraulic jack 86 is connected between each pair of brackets 82 and 84, the hydraulic lines 88 and 90 thereon being connected through suitable operating valves to a source of hydraulic pressure. Typically, the source of hydraulic pressure will be the conventional hydraulic system of the tractor 46 or other towing vehicle, and the lines 88 and 90 will be secured to the boom 48 and the frame member 6 to lead to the region of the hitch 44. The hydraulic jacks 86 can be employed to automatically adjust the lengths of the supporting arms 56 and to secure them in a desired position, in which instance the lock pins 66 will be removed while the hydraulic jacks are operational. Alternatively, the hydraulic jacks 86 can be employed only to adjust the lengths of the supporting arms 56, after which the lock pins 66 are inserted to rigidly connect each arm member 58 to its associated rectangular collar 60. The valves controlling the hydraulic jacks 86 are preferably arranged so that the jacks can be operated either independently or simultaneously, at the option of the operator.

The blade 4 includes a contoured front face 92 having a sharpened cutting edge 94 secured to its lower edge, and welded to the rear of the blade 4 is a vertical plate 96 to which the lower end portions of the supporting arms 56 are pivotally secured. The length of the blade 4 is substantially greater than that of the boom 48, and secured to project normally from the lower portion of the vertical plate 96 are a pair of spaced pivot bolts 98, the spacing between which corresponds to the spacing between the universal connections 54. The lower ends of the arm members 58 have bores 100 therethrough for receiving the pivot bolts 98, and said arm members are secured on the pivot bolts 98 by nuts 102.

Secured to the upper edge of the vertical plate 96 is a p o h ri on y e tend g tracks each ncl ding a pair of rearwardly projecting plates 106 welded to the plate 96 and spaced laterally substantially from the pivot bolts 98. A bar 108 is connected between each pair of plates 106 by bolts 110, the bars 108 being spaced from the vertical plate 96 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the arm members 58. Thus, the arm members 58 are confined to pivotal motion about the bolts 98 in a plane extending parallel to the rear surface of the vertical plate 96.

The blade 4 is thus mounted so that it can be adjusted in every direction, to attain nearly any desired operating position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the blade 4 and its supporting boom 48 can be rotated about the generally vertical longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 50, the elongated supporting frame 2 being designed to cooperate with the boom 48 so that the blade can be rotated either right or left through about 150 from the longitudinal center line of the supporting frame 2. This extremely wide angle of adjustment enables the effective cutting width of the blade to be reduced from the full length of the blade down to a small fraction of that length. For example, for a blade 10 feet in length, the effective cutting width can be reduced to about 2.9 feet when the blade 4 and the boom 48 are rotated into a 15 position relative to the longitudinal axis of the supporting frame.

Another important feature derived from the wide angle through which the supporting boom 48 and the blade 4 can be rotated is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the blade and boom are shown by phantom lines rotated sufficiently so that both lie completely within imaginary parallel lines extending forwardly from the outer surfaces of the wheels 28. When the boom 48 and the blade 4 are in this position the overall width of the machine 1 is such that it can safely be towed on public highways through nar row farm gates and along narrow rural roads or lanes, there being no laterally projecting blade or boom portions that might cause damage.

The universal connections 54 and the supporting arms 56 mount the blade 4 so that it can be swung fore and aft about the boom 48, as shown in FIG. 2. This feature makes it possible to readily adjust the cutting angle of the blade 4 to a desired value, the invention including apparatus (to be described hereinafter) for securing the blade in any desired cutting position.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 3, it is seen that the universal connections 54 and the pivotal connections between the lower end portions of the supporting arms 56 and the blade 4 make it possible to swing or translate the blade 4 longitudinally of the boom 48. This enables either end of the blade 4 to be offset for a substantial distance outwardly from the sides of the supporting frame 2, the lengths of the supporting arms 56 being appropriately adjusted to accommodate an ofiset blade position. This feature makes it possible to grade and level wet spots and the like which can be reached by the offset portion of the blade 4, while the wheels 28 and the towing vehicle remain on firm ground.

The apparatus for securing the blade 4 in a given position includes a winch 112 mounted on the front end of the supporting frame 2, which winch includes a vertical shaft.114 journaled in bores provided in the top wall of the fabricated box 30 and the horizontal leg 36 of the plate 34. A drum 116 is secured to rotate with the shaft 114, and includes an upper flange 118 and a lower flange 119, said flanges having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, aligned bores 120 extending therethrough, the bores 120 registering with aligned bores in the plate 34 and the top of the fabricated box 30 as the drum 116 is rotated. A crank 122 is connected to the upwardly extending end of the vertical shaft 114 for rotating the drum 116 to any desired position, and a locking pin 124 is inserted into the bores 120 in the flanges 118 and 119, and through the mating bores in plate 34 and the box 30., to secu e th d um 116 i a d sire po ition.

Mounted on the lower end of each supporting arm 56, sufliciently above the blade 4 so as not to interfere with pivotal motions of said arms relative to the blade, is an alignment drum assembly 126. Each assembly 126 includes a flange 128 welded to the arm member 58 of the supporting arm 56, which flange supports a drum 130 mounted on the arm member and terminating at its lower end in a flange 132. The drums 130 are each secured against rotation about their associated arm members 58 by a bolt 134, which passes through aligned bores in the flanges 128 and 132.

Secured about the drums 130 are the opposite ends of a cable 136, the center portion of which is snubbed several times about the drum 116 of the winch 112. Each end of the cable 136 has a yoke 137 attached thereto. After each cable end portion has been Wrapped one or more times about its drum 130 the legs of the yoke 137 are placed over the main cable and a pin 139 is inserted, whereby the cable end is secured. Each branch can be lengthened or shortened by first removing the pin 139, after which the cable is unwrapped from or further wrapped about its drum 130 to achieve the desired length. The pin 139 is then again inserted.

When the two branches of the cable 136 are taut between the winch 112 and the drums 130 they hold the blade 4 in a fixed position as the machine 1 moves forwardly. The angle which the blade 4 makes relative to the longitudinal axis of the supporting frame 2 can be changed by removing the locking pin 124 and turning the drum 116 by means of the handle 122, whereby one branch of the cable 136 will be shortened while the other branch is correspondingly lengthened. When the desired angle for the blade 4 has been obtained, the locking pin 124 is replaced.

The cutting angle of the blade 4, as has been explained, can be varied by swinging the blade fore or aft relative to the boom 48. When this is done the lengths of the two branches of the cable 136 must be changed to secure the blade at the desired angle, this being done in the manner described above by increasing or decreasing the number of turns about the drums 130.

The branches of the cable 136 are placed in tension when the machine 1 is in operation, and function to take up most of the load imposed on the blade 4. Thus, no undue strain will be placed on the supporting arms 56 or the boom 48. The elevation of the opposite end portions of the blade 4, as has been explained, can be changed by adjusting the lengths of the supporting arms 56. Further, the blade 4 can be set at an angle to the horizontal to effect grading merely by setting the supporting arms 56 to different lengths, as shown in FIG. 4.

To insure against undesirable side sway of the blade 4 longitudinally of he boom 48, an adjustable brace 138 is connected between a bracket 140 on the boom and a bracket 142 mounted centrally on the blade 4. The brace 138 extends diagonally at an angle both to the horizontal and to the vertical, and includes a housing 144 having a rod 146 telescopically received therein, the housing and the rod having transverse bores 148 and 150, respectively, through which a locking bolt 152 can be passed to secure the brace in a selected position.

When it is desired to laterally olfset the blade 4, the locking bolt 152 is removed from the brace 138 and the blade 4 is translated longitudinally of the boom 48 to the desired position, following which the bolt 152 is reinserted into the newly aligned bores 148 and 150. If necessary, the lengths of the two branches of the cable 136 are also adjusted. The blade 4 will then be braced and secured in an offset position during operation of the machine 1. Obviously, by adjusting the lengths of the supporting arms 56, the branches of the cable 136, and the sway brace 138, the blade 4 can be set and secured in nearly any desired position.

While the elevation of the blade 4 can be changed by adjusting the lengths of the supporting arms 56, the supporting frame 2 is designed so that it can also be employed to adjust the blade height. Specifically, when a tractor 46 having a vertically adjustable draw bar 154 is employed to tow the grader 1, the height of the blade 4 can be changed by raising or lowering said draw bar to pivot the supporting frame 2 about the transverse axle 26.

It is thus seen that a land leveler and grader has been provided which fulfills all of the objects hereinabove set forth, and which can be easily adjusted and operated by one man. Further, the invention can be constructed from readily available materials at a relatively low cost, and the components thereof can be easily repaired or replaced.

The mounting arrangement for the blade 4 has been shown and described in connection with a towed, twowheeled leveler and grader. However, the blade mounting arrangement can equally well be utilized with other kinds of towed levelers and graders, and with self-propelled machines of the type employed for patrolling roads and the like.

Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings without departing from the present invention. For example, and with no intent to be all inclusive, pneumatic or manually operated jacks might be substituted for the hydraulic jacks 86, adjustable length chains might be substituted for the cable 136 and variations might be made in the manner in which the cable or such chains are mounted and arranged, and a different type of universal connection 54 might be employed.

I claim:

1. In a land leveler and grader; a supporting frame, including a longitudinally extending member; a transversely extending boom pivotally connected centrally thereof to said longitudinal frame member for rotation about a generally vertical axis; a pair of downwardly extending arms having their upper end portions connected to the opposite end portions of said boom for universal movement relative to said boom; a blade; the opposite end portions of said blade being pivotally connected to the lower end portions of said arms, said blade being thus mounted for rotation With said boom about said generally vertical axis, for fore and aft swinging movement relative to said boom about the universal connection between the upper ends of said arms and said boom whereby to adjust the angle of cut for said blade, and for lateral swinging movement longitudinally of said boom about the universal connection between the upper ends of said arms and said boom and the pivotal connection between said arms and said blade; and means operable to secure said blade in a preselected position relative to said supporting frame, wherein the angle of cut, the lateral position, and the rotational position of said blade are all fixed during operation of said blade, said means operable to secure} said blade including: adjustable in length tension elements connected between said arms and said supporting frame; and selectively adjustable brace means connected between said boom and said blade.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said arms are each selectively adjustable in length, whereby the elevation of the opposite ends of said blade can be adjusted.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, including additionally: jack means arranged and operable to selectively adjust the length of each of said arms.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable in length tension elements include: winch means mounted on said supporting frame; and cable means connected between each arm and said winch means.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein said winch means is mounted on said supporting frame centrally of and in front of said blade, and wherein said cable means comprises a single cable connected at its opposite ends to said arms, and having its central portion snubbed about said winch means, whereby upon operation of said winch means said blade will be rotated about said generally vertical axis.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5, including a drum on each of said arms about which the associated end of said cable is engaged, whereby the length of the portion of said cable extending between each said drum and said winch means can be changed by wrapping or unwrapping said cable ends about their associated drums.

7. A land leveler and grader, comprising; a longitudinally elongated supporting frame a transversely extending boom pivotally connected centrally thereof to said sup porting frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis; a pair of downwardly extending arms having their upper end portions connected to the opposite end portions of said boom for universal movement relative to said boom, said arms each being selectively adjustable in length; a blade; means carried on the opposite end portions of said blade for pivotally connecting the lower end portions of said arms thereto, said blade being thus mounted for rotation with said boom about said generally vertical axis, for fore and aft swinging movement about said boom, and for lateral swinging movement longitudinally of said boom, and the elevation of the opposite end portions of said blade being selectively adjustable by varying the length of said arms; and means operable to secure said blade in a preselected position relative to said supporting frame, comprising: winch means mounted on the forward portion of said elongated frame; a drum on each of said arms; cable means, the opposite end portions of said cable means being secured about said drums and the central portion of said cable means being snubbed about said winch means, whereby upon operation of said winch means said blade can be rotated about said vertical axis, the length of the branches of said cable means being variable by wrapping the end portions of said cable means about or unwrapping them from said drums; and

selectively adjustable brace means connected between said boom and said blade, arranged and operable to secure said blade in a selected lateral position relative to said boom.

8. A land leveler and grader as recited in claim 7, including additionally: transversely disposed axle and wheel means secured to the rear end of said elongated frame; and means on the front of said elongated frame for hitching the same to a towing vehicle, the elevation of said blade being adjustable by raising and lowering said front, hitch end of said elongated frame.

9. A land leveler and grader as recited in claim 7, wherein the rear side of said blade includes a generally vertical surface on each of the opposite end portions thereof, and wherein the means for pivotally connecting each of said arms to said blade comprises: a pivot pin secured to said rear surface near the lower edge thereof, and passing through the lower end of said arm; and a track secured near the upper edge of said rear surface, said arm being received within said track and being confined thereby to pivotal motion about said pivot pin in a plane parallel to said rear surface.

10. A land leveler as recited in claim 7, including additionally: remotely operable jack means arranged to selectively lengthen and shorten each of said arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1886 Taft 172-788 3/1937 Shaeffer 172793 US. Cl. X.R. 172484, 796, 797 

